Ron Riddell

rriddell@paradise.net.nz	English
http://www.poetryfestival.org.nz/	New Zealand

He was born in Auckland, NZ, in June 1949. Writer and peace-activist, Ron Riddell, is one of New Zealand's most widely published poets. An arts graduate of Auckland University, he worked for many years as a school teacher. In recent years, he has been travelling and working in Latin America. Riddell has performed in a number of countries, including Chile, Colombia, El Salvador and the U.S.A., where his latest book, the award-winning collection, Leaves of Light (like Spirit Songs and El Milagro de Medellin) was published in a bi-lingual edition (English and Spanish). Riddell has performed his work in many festivals and cultural venues around the world, including The Edinburgh Festival (U.K.), Harbourfront (Canada), El Festival Internacional de Poesia de Medellin (Colombia) and El Festival Internacional de Poesia de Cartagena (Colombia), The Austin International Poetry Festival (U.S.A.) and El Encuentro Internacional de Poetas (El Salvador). He has also been involved in a number of peace and cultural initiatives in Colombia, Chile, U.S.A., El Salvador and New Zealand. In Auckland Riddell founded The Titirangi Poets (1976) and in the 1990's established a haven for poets with the Live Poets' Cafe which adjoined the Dead Poets Bookshop in Karangahape Road. A painter, musician and the author of a number of plays and novels, he has published 15 collections of verse. At present, he lives in the New Zealand capital city, Wellington, where he is Director of The Wellington International Poetry Festival. In 2004 he was finalist in The Wellingtonian of the Year Awards. His latest verse collection, Leaves of Light, is published by Caza de Poesia, Los Angeles, U.S.A., 2005. WHA honorary member.

His publication includes: Beads (Parnassus Press, Auckland, 1975), Persephone, Outrigger Publishers, Northern Light (Parnassus Press, Edinburgh, 1978), Islands (Parnassus Press, Edinburgh, 1978), Paths of Fight (Writer and Artists Press, Auckland, 1980), The Christ Light (Solent Publishers, Auckland, 1983), Sense of Being (Writers and Artists Press, Auckland, 1984), Breathing Space (Coromandel Press, Coromandel, 1986), How to Eat a Hot Dog on the Main Street of Thames (E.S.A.W., Auckland, 1990), Michelangelo Dreams (Puriri Press, Auckland, 1997), Love Songs for the Dead (Puriri Press, Auckland, 1998), El Milagro de Medellin y otros poemas (Casa Nueva, Medellin, Colombia, 2002), Anthology of the First Wellington International Poetry Festival (Co-editor, HeadworX, Wellington, 2003), Spirit Songs (Casa Nueva, Medellin/Steele Roberts, Wellington, 2004), Anthology of the Second Wellington International Poetry Festival (Co-editor, HeadworX, Wellington, 2004), Leaves of Light (Caza de Poesia, Los Angeles, U.S.A., 2005).

inner dawn: red sun skyward connection effortless song	内なる夜明け、赤い日空への関係巧まない歌
on the path through the bush I pause to kiss the fiery air	茂みを抜ける小道僕は立ち止まり燃える空気にキスする
a half-finished song a finished one, dying in ashes of trees	未完の歌完成した歌消えてゆく木々の灰のなか
red earth, blue hills parrot barking at the gate	赤い大地、青い丘鸚鵡は吠えている門で
wind of firerages: today a cool breeze between the blackened trunks	火の風荒れ狂う今日涼しいそよ風焦げた幹と幹のあいだに
in a field of sunflowers you wave tirelessly till the word comes through	ひまわり畑君はうまずに手を振ることばがやって来るまで
growing through death from strength to strength shines the silent triumph	死を通じて成長しだんだん力を得て輝く静かな勝利
I stop counting waves put my hand on your shoulder welcome dreams	波を数えるのをやめ君の肩に手を置き夢を迎える
leaves of light upon the tree leaves of light shine presently the life of deft eternity	木に光の葉っぱ光の葉っぱいま輝くすばやい永遠の命
garlands of marigolds each one fit for a king do not disturb the prayers	マリーゴルドの花輪一つ一つが王にふさわしい祈りをさまたげるな

Author: Ron Riddell
Editor: Ban'ya Natsuishi
Translator:Ban'ya Natsuishi

Credits
1; World Haiku 2006, Shichigatsudo, Japan, 2005
2~9; Ginyu No. 29, Ginyu Press, Japan, 2006

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